How to Fill a Cheque for Self: A Field-by-Field Guide (With the Mistakes Banks Reject)

A self cheque is a cheque you write to yourself so you can take cash out of your own account at the bank counter. It is still the simplest way to withdraw more than your ATM limit in one go, and it takes about a minute to fill.

Most guides stop at “write Self and sign”. The cheques that actually get refused at the counter usually fail on something else: a crossing someone drew out of habit, a missing signature on the back, or an amount over the branch’s cash limit. This guide covers those too.

In short: write today’s date, write “Self” in the Pay line, leave “or bearer” as it is, write the amount in words and figures with no gaps, sign in the box as per bank records, and do not cross the cheque. At the counter, sign again on the back and carry photo ID.

Filling the cheque, line by line

Date

Write today’s date in DD/MM/YYYY format in the boxes at the top right, for example 07/11/2026. Do not post-date a self cheque: the bank will not pay it before that date. A cheque is valid for three months from the date written, after which it becomes stale and the bank will refuse it.

Pay

Write “Self” on the Pay line. Some people write their own name instead; that also works if it matches the account exactly, but “Self” is clearer and is what branch staff expect. Draw a line from the end of the word to the end of the line, so nothing can be added.

Leave the printed words “or bearer” at the end of the line untouched. That is what lets the bank pay cash across the counter. If you strike it out, the cheque becomes an order cheque, which is meant for a named payee and may be refused for a cash withdrawal.

Rupees (amount in words)

Start right after the printed word “Rupees” and end with “Only”, for example “Twenty Five Thousand Only”. Then draw a line through any space left. For paise, write “and Fifty Paise Only”.

Amount in figures

Write the number right after the ₹ symbol with no space, and end with “/-“, for example ₹25,000/-. The figure and the words must match exactly. If they do not, the bank will return the cheque.

Signature

Sign in the box at the bottom right, exactly as you signed on your account opening form. For a joint account, follow the operating instruction: if it says “jointly”, every holder must sign; if “either or survivor”, one signature is enough.

Image Source: AI

Field	What to write	Example
Date	Today’s date, DD/MM/YYYY	07/11/2026
Pay	Self, then a line to the end	Self ———————
“or bearer”	Leave it as printed	or bearer
Rupees	Amount in words + “Only”, then a line	Twenty Five Thousand Only ——
₹ box	Amount in figures + “/-“	₹25,000/-
Signature	As per bank records	Your usual signature

The one thing that makes a self cheque useless: crossing it

Many people draw two parallel lines at the top-left corner of every cheque out of habit, sometimes with “A/C Payee” written between them. That is called crossing, and a crossed cheque can only be paid into a bank account, not in cash. On a self cheque, it defeats the whole purpose: the cashier cannot hand you money against it.

If you have already crossed it, do not try to cancel the crossing by writing “crossing cancelled” and signing. Some branches accept that, many do not. It is quicker to cancel the leaf and write a fresh one.

At the bank counter

1. Go to your home branch if the amount is large. Branches other than your own often have a lower cash limit for self withdrawals. Bank of Baroda, for example, allows up to ₹50,000 at any branch and asks you to use your home branch above that.
2. Sign on the back. Most banks ask whoever collects cash against a bearer cheque to sign on the reverse, as an acknowledgement of receiving the money. Do it at the counter if the cashier asks.
3. Carry photo ID. Not every branch asks for it every time, but for large amounts or at a branch where staff do not know you, expect to show it.
4. Count the cash at the counter. Once you leave, a shortfall is very hard to prove.

There is no fee for cashing a self cheque at your own bank. Self cheques cannot be used at ATMs.

Rules you may have heard about, and whether they apply here

Cheque rules have changed a lot since 2025, and several guides, including an earlier version of this one, mixed up which rules apply to a self cheque. The key point: a self cheque you cash at your own bank is paid across the counter. It does not go through the clearing system that handles cheques you deposit or send to someone else.

Faster clearing

Since October 2025, cheques deposited for collection clear within the same day in most cases, instead of two working days. A planned second phase, which would have cut this to about three hours, has been postponed until further notice. None of this affects a self cheque at your own branch, which is paid on the spot.

No corrections

Since December 2010, RBI rules say that cheques going through image-based clearing must carry no changes or corrections other than to the date, and even a date change needs your full signature next to it. Strictly, that rule covers clearing, not cash at the counter. In practice, most cashiers will still refuse an overwritten self cheque because it looks tampered with. If you make a mistake, use a fresh leaf.

Positive Pay

Under RBI’s Positive Pay System, you can confirm the details of a cheque of ₹50,000 or more to your bank in advance, and banks may make this mandatory from ₹5 lakh. It is built for cheques that go through clearing. For a self cheque cashed at your own branch, it is usually not needed, but some banks run their own checks on high-value withdrawals, so ask your branch before withdrawing a large amount.

How much cash you can take out, and when tax kicks in

There is no fixed RBI limit on cash withdrawals from your own savings account. The practical limits are your branch’s cash on hand and its own policy, so for a large amount, call or visit a day earlier.

Tax becomes relevant only at much higher levels. From April 2026, under the new Income-tax Act, the bank must deduct 2% TDS once your total cash withdrawals across the year cross ₹1 crore (₹3 crore from a co-operative society). This was Section 194N under the old Act and is now Section 393(3). If you have not filed income tax returns for the past three years, a lower ₹20 lakh threshold and higher rates apply. TDS is not an extra tax; you can claim it back against your tax liability when you file your return.

For most households, these limits are far away. If you find yourself withdrawing large sums in cash regularly, it is worth asking whether a transfer would do the job instead. If you are building cash reserves, a separate account for your emergency fund is usually safer than notes at home.

Can someone else withdraw the cash for you?

Yes, because a self cheque is a bearer cheque: the bank pays whoever presents it, provided the signature matches. That convenience is also the risk. A signed self cheque that is lost is as good as cash to whoever finds it.

• Send someone you trust, and give them the cheque only when they are leaving for the bank.
• They should carry their own photo ID, and will sign on the back as the person receiving cash.
• Banks often allow a lower amount, sometimes ₹50,000 or less, when someone other than the account holder collects the cash. Check with your branch first.
• If a signed cheque goes missing, call your bank right away and ask for a stop payment on that cheque number.

Why self cheques get refused at the counter

Problem	What happens	Fix
Cheque is crossed	Cannot be paid in cash	Use a fresh leaf, uncrossed
“or bearer” struck off	May be refused for cash	Leave it as printed
Words and figures differ	Returned	Fresh leaf
Overwriting or correction	Usually refused	Fresh leaf
Signature does not match	Returned	Sign as on your bank records; update the specimen if your signature has changed
Post-dated	Not paid before that date	Write today’s date
Older than three months	Stale, refused	Fresh leaf
Amount over branch limit	Refused or asked to come back	Go to the home branch; inform the bank in advance for large sums

Common questions

Should I write “Self” or my name on a self cheque?

“Self” is the standard and what tellers expect. Your name also works if it matches the account name exactly, but there is no advantage to it.

Do I need to sign on the back of a self cheque?

Usually, yes. Since it is a bearer cheque, the bank asks the person receiving the cash to sign on the reverse. If you are collecting it yourself, that is you.

Can I withdraw cash with a self cheque from any branch?

Often, yes, but non-home branches usually have a lower limit. For large amounts, go to your home branch.

Can I use a self cheque to move money to my other account?

Yes, though it then goes through clearing like any other cheque and you should cross it “A/C Payee” for safety. A UPI, NEFT or IMPS transfer is faster and free for most savings accounts.

Can I use a self cheque from a current account?

Yes. The filling rules are the same. Current accounts often have higher cash-withdrawal allowances; see how the two account types differ.

What if I make a mistake while writing it?

Write “Cancelled” across the leaf, keep or destroy it, and write a new one. Do not overwrite.

Before you leave for the bank

Check five things: today’s date, “Self” with a line after it, matching words and figures, your signature, and no crossing at the top-left corner. Carry your ID, and if the amount is large, confirm with your branch that it has the cash ready.